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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: Catherine koffi <catherinekoffi174444@gmail.com>
Reply-To: Catherine koffi <cathykoffiiiiiiiiii@outlook.com>
Date: Thu, 23 Feb 2017 07:28:27 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Dearest One


 Abidjan Cote D'Ivoire   West Africa  From Miss Catherine Koffi I am Catherine Koffi the only daughter of Mr & Mrs William Koffi, It is sad to say that he passed away mysteriously of my Father in France during one of his business trips abroad, Before his death on Febuary 25 2013 But God knows the truth. My mother died when I was just 6 years old,and since then my father took me so special.Before his death, he told me he has the sum of  (USD$7.700,000) left in a security company inside two metalic box. I am just 19 years old and an university undergraduate and really don't know what to do,Note that the security company where my late Father made the deposit does not know that the consignment depositing under their custody contains money my late father declare the content to the security company as containing family  sincere regards,What percentage of the total amount in question will be good for you after the money is in your account while i finalise my education. Please,Consider this and get back to me as soon as possible. I am in a sincere desire of your humble assistance in this regards.Your suggestions and ideas will be highly, 1. Can you honestly help me?2.Can I completely trust you? regardedMissCatherine Koffi

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